UC Law School: No to PA Lawfare Conference

A San Francisco college decided at the last minute to back out of sponsoring a PA lawfare conference. Faculty are upset.

By Chana Ya'ar

First Publish: 4/14/2011, 12:48 PM / Last Update: 4/14/2011, 12:00 PM

Flash 90

The board of directors at a San Francisco, California college last month backed out of sponsoring a Palestinian Authority lawfare conference -- to the dismay of its faculty. The conference was to focus on the use of the courtroom to ensure "Palestinian rights."

The University of California, Hastings law school yanked its name from the roster of sponsors following complaints from Jewish groups.

The Jewish Community Relations Council and other Jewish community groups warned the conference was anti-Israel and one-sided, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

A speech by the school's dean at the conference was also canceled, though the conference was still held on the campus, in March.

Professor George Bisharat, who organized the gathering, complained that the governor-appointed board of directors had interfered with the school's academic freedom.

A letter signed by most of the school's tenured professors was sent to UC Hastings' board last week, protesting the cancellation.